Constitution & Bylaws

CONSTITUTION OF THE HUMBOLDT HOMEBREWERS. Voted in January 3, 2019.Closeup photo of the Magna Carta

ARTICLE ONE 

Purpose

Section 1. Name 

The name of this organization shall be the Humboldt Homebrewers. The organization is a project of the Ink People Center for the Arts “DreamMaker” program.

Section 2. Purpose 

The purpose of the Humboldt Homebrewers shall be to provide educational opportunities to all members and the public in the art, science and culture of brewing by:

  1. The dissemination of knowledge regarding the art of brewing.
  2. Exploring and evaluating beer styles, and brewing techniques.
  3. Holding lectures at which qualified experts discuss topics pertaining to home brewing and give instruction on brewing techniques.
  4. Engaging in social activities focused on teaching home brewing and/or by promoting the responsible use and enjoyment of the products of our craft as a common foundation.
  5. The consumption of samples to allow for the examination of various styles of home brewed beverages and for the purposes of competition, evaluation, feedback and problem solving.

Section 3. General Membership Meeting Location

The general meeting location of the Humboldt Homebrewers shall be 110 3rd Street, Eureka, CA, until such time that the membership, by resolution, decides to locate elsewhere. Occasionally meetings can take place at other local establishments at the recommendation of the Board.

 

ARTICLE TWO  

Government

Section 1. Supreme Law

All legislative and executive powers shall be given to and controlled by the Board of Directors.

“Supreme Law” inherent in the executive powers of the Board of Directors is the ability to remove a person from the membership for cause.

The Board of Directors shall consist of all the elected officers of the Humboldt Homebrewers.

Section 2. Elected Officers

The elected voting officers of the Humboldt Homebrewers shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Web Master, Public Relations Director, Membership Director and Cellar Master. In the event any of these voting officers is not filled during the September board elections then the current President has the right to fill any of these positions as needed through appointments.  The appointed positions will be non-voting and will expire by next election.

Section 3. Term of Office

All offices shall be held for a period of one year, beginning with a 1 month internship for new officers after the election at the General Meeting in September and terminating at the end of the following September.

ARTICLE THREE  

Duties of Elected Officers

Section 1. President

The duties of the President shall be as follows:

  1. To uphold the Constitution and By-Laws of the Humboldt Homebrewers.
  2. To interpret the Constitution and By-Laws of the Humboldt Homebrewers when necessary.
  3. To set the theme and agenda for the meetings.
  4. To call meetings to order and conduct meeting in an orderly manner.
  5. To call for special meetings when necessary.
  6. To form committees when necessary.
  7. To serve as an ex officio member of all committees.
  8. To vote only in the event of a tie on motions made at membership meetings and/or Board of Directors meetings.
  9. To serve as the key liaison with the club’s nonprofit host, the Ink People Center for the Arts.
  10. To maintain current membership with the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) and serve as the Humboldt Homebrewers liaison for all matters relating to the AHA.

Section 2. Vice-President

The duties of the Vice-President shall be as follows:

  1. To assist the President with his duties.
  2. To assume the President’s duties in a meeting if the president is absent.
  3. To maintain the library of reference material pertaining to home brewing.
  4. To maintain an inventory of property owned by the club including all tools and equipment located at Humboldt Beer Works. Oversee or delegate equipment reservations including instructions for proper cleaning and maintenance.
  5. To organize club trips including trips to breweries and cideries and group camping trips.

Section 3. Secretary

The duties of the Secretary shall be as follows:

  1. To take the minutes of Board of Directors meetings and membership meetings.
  2. To maintain a file of all minutes.
  3. To post the minutes on line in a way accessible to members.
  4. To assume the role as the chair of a meeting in the absence of the President and Vice President.

Section 4. Treasurer

The duties of the Treasurer shall be as follows:

  1. To administer the Humboldt Homebrewers’ finances and make timely transactions in the club’s bank account/sub-account.
  2. To collect and document monies owed to the Humboldt Homebrewers.
  3. To work with the staff and board of the Ink People Center for the Arts on financial matters.
  4. To authorize expenses incurred by members on behalf of the Humboldt Homebrewers. Not to exceed $250.00 per purchase without Board’s authorization.
  5. To submit a report to the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis or when requested by the President.
  6. To maintain the inventory and disbursement of Humboldt Homebrewers’ gear, e.g. t-shirts, hats, glasses and more.
  7. To collect and record money received from raffles and membership dues, and forward these records as needed to the Ink People Center for the Arts.

Section 5. Public Relations Director 

The duties of the Public Relations Director shall be as follows:

  1. To promote the Humboldt Homebrewers’ to the media and the public at large.
  2. To arrange to have guest speakers and demonstrations at membership meetings and Humboldt Homebrewers’ events.
  3. To arrange for special events, workshops and seminars in which the Humboldt Homebrewers may participate.

Section 6. Membership Director

The duties of the Membership Director shall be as follows:

  1. To maintain a current roster.
  2. To issue membership cards.
  3. To organize membership drives.
  4. To proctor nominations and elections.
  5. To have new members fill out membership information form and sign code of conduct form upon joining the Humboldt Homebrewers.
  6. To organize and oversee raffles and auctions at events and membership meetings.

Section 7. Cellar Master

The duties of the Cellar Master shall be as follows:

  1. To arrange a tasting of commercial and/or homebrewed beers for membership meetings. The purpose of the beer tasting will be for educational purposes.
  1. To help the Public Relations Director coordinate workshops and demonstrations.
  2. To inform the membership of the upcoming competitions and arrange the voting and submissions for the AHA “club only” competitions.
  3. To coordinate and organize Humboldt Homebrewers’ competition efforts as the head of the Competition Committee.
  4. To seek other ways to provide education and development in the art and culture of brewing to club members.

Section 8. Web Master

The duties of the Web Master shall be as follows

  1. To design and maintain the Humboldt Homebrewers’ online presence. The site shall contain news and scheduling information, archives of recipes, photos, newsletters and other items deemed pertinent.
  2. To maintain a scrapbook of the Humboldt Homebrewers’ history and events, including, but not limited to photographs.
  3. To maintain Humboldt Homebrewers’ publications, including, but not limited to, newsletters, posters, flyers, etc.

ARTICLE FOUR

Quorums

Section 1.  

A voting quorum at a membership meeting shall be no less than twenty five percent (25%) of the paid membership as reported by the Membership Director at the last Board of Directors meeting previous to the membership meeting where a vote(s) is (are) to be taken.

A quorum at a Board of Directors meeting shall consist of half of the Board of Directors. In event that an officer cannot be present for the meeting they can proxy vote in writing for voting items that are on the current meeting agenda only.  Any new item coming up in the meeting will need to be shelved until the next board meeting.

ARTICLE FIVE

Election of Officers

Section 3. Balloting

A secret ballot election shall be held at the September membership meeting. Only paid members may vote. The Membership Director shall determine how the secret balloting will take place.

Section 4. Tally

The Membership Director shall designate a members not running for office to tally the ballots.  The results should be available by the end of the meeting.

The new officer(s) for each office shall be the person(s) with a plurality of the votes for that office.  

ARTICLE SIX

Installation of Officers

Section 1. New Officers

At the September general meeting, officers-elect will begin a one-month internship. Installation of the new officers shall occur at the October general meeting.

ARTICLE SEVEN

Meetings

Section 1. Membership Meetings

Membership meetings shall be held on the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at 110 3rd Street, Eureka, California unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors to be posted on the Humboldt Homebrewers’ website or Facebook page.

All Membership meetings will last from 7:00 PM to approximately 8:30 PM and will be governed by “Robert's Rules of Order”.  The President will conduct the meeting and ensure the meeting is conducted in a timely manner.

All members, and public in general, are encouraged to attend these meetings.  

Section 2. Board of Directors

Board of Directors meetings shall be held at least quarterly at a time and place called by the President.

All officers are required to attend and submit a report pertinent to their office. Also, any member may attend these meetings.

All Board of Director meetings will last no longer than 2 hours and be governed by “Robert's Rules of Order.” Meetings will have the following agenda and timeframes to ensure the meeting is conducted in a timely manner.  The President will conduct the meeting and ensure the meeting is conducted in a timely manner.

ARTICLE ONE

Membership

Section 7. Membership Agreement

All members shall agree to and sign a membership agreement, which states:  “By joining Humboldt Homebrewers and paying dues, I agree to the following:
To the extent permitted by law, I covenant to save and defend, keep harmless and indemnify the Humboldt Homebrewers and all of its officers, agents, volunteers, employees and membership, as well as Humboldt Beer Works, any other meeting place, its owners and the property owners of 110 3rd street Eureka, CA 95501, Globe Properties, and The Ink People, their board of directors and Executive Director from and against any and all claims, loss, damage, injury, cost (including court costs and attorney’s fees), charges, liability or exposure, however caused resulting from or arising out of or in any way connected with the Humboldt Homebrewers.
I furthermore agree and understand that any consumption of alcohol in conjunction with Humboldt Homebrewers activities, shall be done in moderation and in the spirit of tasting, evaluating, judging and education only.  It is my responsibility for me to know and understand my own level of impairment, if any, and that I will not operate a motor vehicle if I am impaired. I will not consume alcohol unless I am over 21 years old with proof of age in possession.”

Section 9. Age

Members of the Humboldt Homebrewers shall be at least 21 years of age.

ARTICLE TWO

The Ink People

Section 1. Money

All monies must be deposited with The Ink People and checks must be made payable to “Ink People,” not the Project’s name. The Humboldt Homebrewers will pay to the Ink People a 12.5% administrative fee applicable to all income, except taxes collected, or a 5% administrative fee for admissions for performances and events.

Section 2. Communications

The Humboldt Homebrewers will provide semiannual reports to The Ink People Board of Directors through the Executive Director.  The Club will also request approval of grant applications from The Board before applying and coordinate fundraising appeals with DreamMaker Consultant, Libby Maynard.  The Club will keep regular contact with the DreamMaker Consultant Libby Maynard by either phone or email. 

Section 3. Ink People Membership

Key members of the Humboldt Homebrewers board must join The Ink People as members.  The fees incurred from this membership may be taken from the general fund.

Section 4. Publicity

The Humboldt Homebrewers shall include the phrase “a DreamMaker project of The Ink People” in all promotional materials, list The Ink People URL: www.inkpeople.org, and use the Ink People, National Endowment for the Arts, and California Arts Council logos in all materials. When writing publicity or being interviewed, you must be sure to include “a DreamMaker project of The Ink People” and impress it upon the interviewer.

ARTICLE FOUR

Insurance

Section 1. Insurance

The Humboldt Homebrewers shall secure an appropriate insurance policy at a nominal rate per member per annum.  This policy shall be renewed on September 1st of every year.